First call in five years reveals Aung San Suu Kyi in strict isolation

Aung San Suu Kyi, the 81-year former democratic leader of Myanmar, is living in near-total isolation and appears to be in good physical and mental condition, according to her son Kim Aris. Aris spoke with his mother by phone on Thursday, marking their first contact in more than five years. The call took place at the Myanmar embassy in London, where Aris was permitted to speak with her.

"She still sounds certainly all there mentally, and physically she sounds strong," Aris said. He indicated that he does not believe she has any companions other than military or police personnel. In his assessment, she has essentially been held in solitary confinement for the past five years.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was deposed in a 2021 military coup and subsequently moved to an unspecified location in the capital. Aris stated he is not certain of her exact whereabouts but believes she resides in a fenced-off compound in Naypyidaw. He described the surrounding area as a patch of scrubby land. The former state counsellor is currently denied access to newspapers, radio, or television.

Aris characterized the invitation to call as part of a public relations campaign by the military leadership. Former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has sought to rebuild diplomatic ties abroad. In April, he switched from military fatigues to civilian clothes following elections that many observers criticized as a sham. Aris noted that the regime has previously used staged photo opportunities to suggest fair treatment of political prisoners.

Last week, a government spokesperson released images of Suu Kyi smiling in a wood-panelled room. Officials were seen handing her two gardening books as gifts from Britain's King Charles. A calendar on the wall behind her displayed the date. Aris described these photo releases as familiar stunts designed to project an image of humane detention.

The 2021 takeover ignited a civil war that conflict monitors say has killed more than 100,000 people. Suu Kyi has faced international scrutiny since the 2016 and 2017 mass killings and expulsions of Rohingya Muslims. At the International Court of Justice in The Hague, she acknowledged that military units might have used disproportionate force while defending the government against genocide accusations. Aris said his mother was never silent on the crisis and that her leadership involved walking a tightrope with the military.

Activists have long demanded proof of life for Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. A Red Cross visit in August included photographs of the former leader. Aris observed that global public support for his mother has dwindled since the Rohingya crisis. He argued that the current lack of international attention to Myanmar should not be attributed solely to the Rohingya situation.